SIG for Python Resource Cataloguing

This SIG was created to discuss and build a catalog of Python resources. The SIG charter was:

The Python Catalog SIG aims at producing a master index of Python software and other resources. It will begin by figuring out what the requirements are, converging on a design for the data schema, and producing an implementation. ("Implementation" will almost certainly include mean a set of CGI scripts for browsing the catalog, and may also contain a standard library module for automatically fetching and installing modules, if the SIG decides that's a worthwhile feature.)

The catalog became the Python Package Index. Because developing the catalog is closely intertwined with the Distutils and other packaging tools, the Catalog-SIG was closed in March 2013 and merged with the Distutils SIG.

SIG Links

• Requirements document
• Other packaging systems
• Subscribing to the mailing list
• Archives

Current Status

As of February 2003, the Python Package Index is operational and available at http://pypi.python.org/pypi. The list of indexed packages is still quite small; please add your packages!

Some relevant PEPs have been written:

• PEP 241: Metadata for Python Software Packages: Implemented and included in Python 2.1.
• PEP 243: Module Repository Upload Mechanism: A draft specifying how to upload files to a catalog server.
• PEP 262: Database of Installed Python Packages: A now-withdrawn proposal for a database of installed Python packages.
• PEP 301: Package Index and Metadata for Distutils: Specifies a Distutils register command for registering packages with a central catalog.